Dave Bing began his first full day as mayor earlier this week addressing immediate crises and ongoing ones. Maybe the most important thing he has done so far involves wooing General Motors Corp. to stay in the Renaissance Center and persuading the company to remain in Detroit for the long-term.

Bing was a great NBA basketball player—so good he’s in the Basketball Hall of Fame. But, if he can keep GM in Detroit, it will be the greatest achievement of his life. The clock is running down, his team is down by three points and he has the ball. It’s a classic “do or die” situation, and if Bing succeeds, he can run for Governor of Michigan and win. Detroit is an embattled city right now, and if Bing can make it here, he can win the game for America’s Team. Detroit losing GM would be like the city losing either the basketball Pistons, the baseball Tigers, the hockey Red Wings or the football Lions.